Reference Date: 11-June-2025

Production of sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains forecast at near ‑ average levels in 2025

The national economy is dominated by the petroleum sector, while agriculture contributes only to a small portion of the national gross domestic product (GDP). The agricultural land covers about 280 000 hectares, about 10 percent of the total country area. Of these, about 180 000 hectares are used for the cultivation of staple foods such as cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, groundnuts and bananas, and the rest of the area is planted with permanent crops and cash crops (cocoa, coffee, coconut and fruit trees). Other important staple foods in the local diet are chicken meat, wheat flour and rice, which are largely imported.

According to the Corporate Database for Substantive Statistical Data (FAOSTAT), in 2023 (latest available data), the production of sweet potatoes, cassava and plantains amounted to near‑average levels of about 101 000 tonnes, 75 000 tonnes and 42 000 tonnes, respectively. Following favourable weather conditions during the 2025 growing season, the production of these crops is likely to remain at near‑average levels in 2025.

Food imports forecast slightly above average in 2025

The country covers about 70 percent of its food consumption needs with imports, mostly through commercial channels. In 2025, with a population of about 1.6 million, imports of wheat and rice are forecast at slightly above‑average levels of 25 000 tonnes and 30 000 tonnes, respectively.

Inflation rate decreased in 2025

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the average inflation rate was estimated at about 5 percent in 2024 and it decreased to about 3.4 percent in 2025, due a tight monetary policy established by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:

FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/.

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/.

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/.